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Brazil’s hopes of hiring Carlo Ancelotti as their head coach have almost ended. Problems arose blocking his release from Real Madrid, even after a verbal agreement was in place for days.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Talks between the Brazilian Football Confederation and Ancelotti fell apart suddenly. Real Madrid refused to allow his early release. Ancelotti had reached a personal agreement with Brazil and was ready to sign the contract, but Real Madrid’s position on the exit terms and payment was a big issue. Ancelotti did not want to give up his salary, and would have had to pay Real Madrid to leave before his contract ended in June 2026. Additionally, new interest in the Italian from Saudi Arabian clubs added more challenges to the situation.
BRAZIL’S SEARCH FOR STABILITY
Brazil have been looking for a new coach since ending their relationship with Dorival Junior in March, after a heavy 4-1 loss to Argentina in World Cup qualifying. That defeat left the team struggling in their qualification journey. They are currently fifth in the South American standings, just two points ahead of sixth-placed Uruguay. The federation wanted Ancelotti for over a year, hoping he would lead Brazil to the 2026 World Cup. With talks failing, Brazil must now find another option quickly. Jorge Jesus, currently managing Al-Hilal, has become the favorite, but he is also under contract until the end of the Club World Cup.
WHAT COMES NEXT?
As the June international window nears, Brazil must send their squad list to FIFA by May 18. The federation wants a new coach to make final selections, creating a tight timeline. Real Madrid are still likely to part ways with Ancelotti at the end of the season, but his future remains unknown, with Saudi Arabian clubs interested. Brazil will focus on stabilizing their qualification journey as they wait for a new appointment. Real Madrid have important matches ahead as they sit top of La Liga and prepare for the Champions League semifinal. Brazil’s next game is against Ecuador, who are just one point below them in the World Cup qualifying standings, making the need for a new manager more urgent.
